Associate Principle Scientist, Immunopeptidomics

At AstraZeneca we work together across global boundaries to make an impact and find answers to challenges. We do this with the upmost integrity even in the most difficult situations because we are committed to doing the right thing. We continuously forge partnerships that help pursue world‑class medicines in new ways, combining our people’s exceptional skills with those of people from all over the globe.

As a part of our Dynamic Omics team in Gaithersburg, MD, you’ll play a pivotal role in channeling our scientific capabilities to make a positive impact on changing patients’ lives.

Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life‑changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most cutting‑edge technology and lab spaces, all designed to inspire collaboration and cross‑functional science.

We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired  are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

Dynamic Omics is part of the Centre for Genomics Research (CGR) and Discovery Sciences within AstraZeneca, and works across all therapeutic areas. The Dynamic Omics team delivers key data to projects across all phases of the drug discovery and development, and we work with all modalities from small molecules to biologics. As a member of Dynamic Omics and CGR, you will serve as the scientific leader for immunopeptidomics, driving the analysis of preclinical and clinical samples using advanced MHC peptide isolation workflows, high‑throughput mass spectrometry, and specialized bioinformatics pipelines.

We are looking for an expert immunopeptidomics scientist who can identify opportunities and synergies across projects and act as a scientific leader influencing across disciplines and therapeutic areas. The successful candidate will be an emerging leader within the AstraZeneca scientific community, contributing strategic scientific insight and mentoring junior scientists. Applicants should possess outstanding written and oral communication skills, a strong publication record in high‑quality peer‑reviewed journals, and a demonstrated ability to initiate and manage internal and external collaborations.

• Scientific Leadership: Lead all aspects of mass spectrometry‑based immunopeptidomics, from sample preparation through data acquisition, analysis, and biological interpretation. Serve as the recognized internal expert and key point of contact for immunopeptidomics.
• Therapeutic Area Partnership &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Drive immunopeptidomics projects in close partnership with the Infectious Disease Therapy Area, applying MHC peptide profiling to support antigen characterization, target prioritization, and vaccine development programs. Represent immunopeptidomics capabilities to stakeholders, form cross‑functional project teams, and manage external collaborations as needed.
• Method Development: Develop, optimize, and implement novel immunopeptidomics workflows, including MHC class I and class II peptide isolation and advanced LC‑MS/MS acquisition strategies on timsTOF and/or Orbitrap‑based systems.
• Data Analysis & Bioinformatics: Lead immunopeptidomics data analysis pipelines, including de novo sequencing, DIA‑based quantification, and MHC binding prediction. Apply AI and machine learning tools to enhance data interpretation. Integrate immunopeptidomics data with multi‑omics datasets.
• Mentorship: Provide scientific guidance to junior scientists and technical staff, contributing to team development and a collaborative culture.
• Publications & External Visibility: Maintain an active publication record in high‑quality peer‑reviewed journals and represent AstraZeneca at international conferences.

• Education: PhD in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, immunology, proteomics, or a relevant discipline.
• Experience: PhD with 5+ years of extensive relevant scientific…